Rick Smith


Biography

Rick is a retired National Park Service employee. He served in 6 national parks, 2 regional offices, and in the Service's headquarters office in DC. Prior to his NPS career, he was a Peace Corps Volunteer, serving as a professor in the philosophy department in Paraguay's National University. He has worked extensively in Latin American as a protected area specialist.



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Some of the least-known resources of the National Park System are the cultural and natural resources that lie below the waters within the boundaries of our park areas. While not as mainstream as activities such as camping and hiking, diving and snorkeling are increasingly popular ways to enjoy and be inspired by these resources.
Who would have figured the stir that a couple of turtles would generate? I was in Nicaragua in late June working with community rangers who are employees of a non-governmental organization known as Paso Pacífico. I was on a beach observing something I had never seen before, something that hardly anyone gets to witness these days. Two hawksbill turtles had come ashore to nest on the beach that Paso Pacífico’s rangers patrol.
This week’s national park quiz will find out how much you know about climbing in the national parks. Answers are at the end. If we catch you peeking, we’ll make you write on the whiteboard 100 times: “Placing protection without due regard for security has been the last mortal act of many a weekend climber.”
It’s been nearly 30 years since ranger Paul Fugate disappeared while on patrol in Chiricahua National Monument. What happened to him remains a mystery to this day.
Most Traveler readers know that Yellowstone National Park is considered to be the world’s first national park. Some, though, might not know that more than 130 nations have established parks or protected areas within their boundaries.
This week’s quiz is about surviving – or even better, avoiding – dangerous situations in national parks. Answers are at the end. This is serious stuff, so you’re welcome to peek all you like.
It doesn't get much publicity, but some of the most interesting scuba diving in the U.S. takes place in our national parks. So grab your fins, masks, snorkels and regulators and have a go at this week's quiz. Answers are at the end. If we catch you peeking, we’ll put sand in your wetsuit.
I always liked the acronym, SCRU, the best, I thought, in the federal government. It stood for the Submerged Cultural Resources Unit, a collection of National Park Service world-class divers stationed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, who also happened to be professional archaeologists, anthropologists, and illustrators.